Agreement On `Contra` Aid Stalled

April 23, 1985|By Steven V. Roberts, The New York Times

WASHINGTON — Talks between leading senators and White House officials failed to produce agreement Monday night on a compromise proposal that would provide $14 million in non-military aid to the Nicaraguan rebels.

About a dozen lawmakers from both parties spent more than eight hours at the White House, but when they emerged Monday evening Sen. Bob Dole of Kansas, the majority leader, told reporters, ``We`re still not there.``

The Senate is scheduled to take up the issue this morning, and the senators agreed to continue seeking a compromise.

Sen. Robert C. Byrd of West Virginia, the Democratic leader, said ``we`re upbeat`` about the chances of reaching an agreement. But Sen. Christopher J. Dodd, D-Conn., said that ``frankly, I have my doubts.``

Motivations for a compromise were strong in both parties. The administration and its Republican allies were eager to find a formula to avoid defeat on the issue. The Democrats feared that if they did not support some compromise, they would be accused of ignoring communist subversion in Central America.

According to participants in the meeting Monday, all parties agreed that the funds to the ``contras`` would be limited to ``humanitarian`` aid, such as food and clothing, and would not be used for military purposes. But the talks foundered on these disagreements:

(BU) The administration wants the money distributed by the Central Intelligence Agency, and the Democrats favor a different method.

(BU) The two sides agree on a call for a cease-fire in the region, but they do not agree on who would monitor a truce. Dole said the administration favored the National Security Council for such a role.

(BU) The administration favors direct talks between the Nicaraguan government and the rebels. The Democrats place greater emphasis on a resumption of talks between the United States and the Nicaraguan government.

A senior administration official took issue with reports of a major dispute over how funds for the rebels would be disbursed.

``That`s not an insurmountable obstacle,`` he said.

The official also said the administration was willing to resume direct talks between the United States and Nicaragua, but he said the administration was not willing to abandon its call for talks between the rebels and the Nicaraguan government.

President Reagan originally requested $14 million in military aid for the rebels last year, but Congress put off a decision until the current session.

Faced with almost certain defeat, Reagan abandoned his original plan and suggested that the money be used only for non-military aid while negotiations proceeded. But he also proposed that the funds be made available for military purposes if talks did not produce an agreement.

When this second plan, offered April 4, failed to stir much support, Reagan shifted gears again, dropping the request for military aid altogether and suggesting that the funds be limited to ``non-lethal`` purposes. It is this third version that is now being negotiated.

While the White House meeting was going on, House Democrats predicted approval for their own plan for aid to Central America when it comes to a vote, probably on Wednesday.

``It looks good,`` said Rep. Michael D. Barnes, the Maryland Democrat who is an author of the proposal.

Under the plan, Congress would send $10 million through the Red Cross to aid refugees from the fighting in Nicaragua. But the aid would be available only outside the country and would not directly help the rebels.

In addition, $4 million would go to the Contadora countries -- Colombia, Mexico, Panama and Venezuela -- which are trying to foster negotiations between the Nicaraguan government and the rebels. The money would be used to enforce any treaty that might emerge from those negotiations.

Barnes insisted that the Democratic-controlled House would not accept any proposal that channels money directly to the rebels, as the Senate is discussing.

``I don`t think that will fly in the House,`` he said.

House Republicans crafted their own proposal Monday under which the $14 million in aid would be administered through the Agency for International Development and could not be used for rebel arms or munitions. In addition, the proposal ``strongly encourages`` the administration to adopt economic sanctions if Nicaragua refuses to enter talks with the rebels.

The White House spokesman, Larry Speakes, said that while the vote count was ``very close`` in the Senate, the administration supporters were ``a bit farther behind`` in the House.